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Panasonic announces major firmware update for Lumix S5II and S5IIX
Panasonic has announced a significant firmware update for its full-frame mirrorless LUMIX S5II and S5IIX cameras. The Firmware V2.0 update adds AF features and enhances sharing functionality for both stills and video capture. Key features include: Camera-to-cloud integration with Adobe’s Frame.io – now supports Adobe Camera to Cloud compatibility, enabling images and videos to be automatically uploaded, backed up, shared, and worked on jointly via the cloud. Proxy Video Recording – this innovative feature introduces the simultaneous recording of a low-bit-rate proxy file alongside the original video recording, providing quick post-production processes. Enhanced Real-time Autofocus Recognition– this newly improved system boosts the precise Phase Hybrid autofocus, efficiently recognising not only people but animal eyes, cars and motorcycles. Enhanced E.I.S.…
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Leica APO Summicron-SL 50mm F2 ASPH lens review
Announced on 15 August 2019, the Leica APO Summicron-SL 50mm F2 ASPH is a relatively compact high-end lens for Leica SL cameras. Inside, the lens design is complex for a 50mm. But, it’s designed for a digital sensor so there are some prerequisites to satisfy. It has no less than 12 elements in total, with several AD (anomalous dispersion) elements to mitigate CA and fringing plus three with aspherical surfaces to reduce SA and distortion. The lens also adopts what some call. a ‘digital element,’ or a lens profile, to correct vignetting, distortion and CA, more as an afterthought in this case as the lens is so well corrected optically.…
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Leica SL3 camera announced
Leica has announced the Leica SL3, the latest top-of-the-range model in the 35mm full-frame SL system. This is an exciting new camera for Leica and a hugely compelling update to the SL2, however, keen-eyed readers will see that there’s no multi-shot function, which was one of the key features of the SL2 (and SL2-S), or at least a key-differentiator between it and rivals (who haven’t yet matched Leica/Panasonic in either implementation or result). I spoke with a Leica executive and they informed me that the multi-shot feature has not been included this time but if there is strong demand for it then they will consider adding it at a later…
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Leica Q3 review: the quintessential Leica
Leica’s Q series is the company’s best-selling digital camera to date and it’s not all that difficult to see why. Kevin Carter looks at the latest iteration, the Leica Q3 Small, light and unobtrusive the Leica Q embodies all that’s attractive of the Leica M with added the benefit of a Kabe-designed Leica autofocus 28mm F1.7 lens. This is the closest we have to an autofocus M series camera, and unless you’re adept at using one of those you’ll be more successful shooting at the initial aperture or close to it and far more discrete using a Leica Q. What’s more, the latest iteration the Leica Q3 is the fastest…
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Leica announces the M11-P with new editing protection feature
Leica has announced the long-expected mid-cycle ‘P’ (Professional) update to the popular Leica M11, the Leica M11-P. As expected the new model features the Leica inscription on the top plate and shares the M11 Monochrom’s increase to 256GB internal memory, up from 64GB on the original M11. In an unexpected move, however, Leica has added a copyright protection feature ‘Leica Content Credentials,’ not previously seen on a regular production camera. Adopting specialised hardware in the new camera, the Leica M11-P can encrypt the image metadata at the time of capture to provide “reliable provenance” that the image hasn’t been altered during post-processing. This new LCC feature allows photographers and editors…
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Zeiss 35mm F1.4 ZM Distagon lens review
Intro Although marketed for the maker’s M-mount Zeiss Ikon rangefinder, the range of ZM lenses is rightly popular with Leica M users. All are accessibly priced compared with their Leica equivalents and optical performance is often on a par, if not sometimes regarded as being technically superior. With the Zeiss Ikon camera now retired, this new high-speed 35mm model is aimed squarely at Leica’s core users. Compared to the latest iteration from Wetzlar, the Zeiss is priced somewhat modestly at around £1680 inc VAT. It’s supplied without a case or hood, but there’s no mistaking the quality. Build Externally the design is reminiscent of previous models complete with click stopped…
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Leica Summilux-M 50mm F1.4 ASPH Close Focus 2023 model: First impressions
The new Leica Summilux-M 50mm F1.4 ASPH Close Focus 2023 (11728) model follows the recent update to the Summilux-M 35mm F1.4 ASPH CF last year and adopts the built-in rangefinder decoupling or “double-cam” feature of the focus ring. The feature enables focusing down to 0.45m from the usual 0.7m – the former is the typical minimum focus of DSLR/mirrorless lenses of this focal length (50mm). The double-cam feature was first introduced on the Leica Summilux 35mm F2.0 APO and was quite stiff on the model I tried. To disengage rangefinder focusing, you push the focus ring through some slight resistance at the minimum focus distance marked at 0.7m in orange-coloured…
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Leica SL2 silver version announced
Leica has released the Leica SL2 in a chrome version, or what Leica call a “silver” anodised finish. With a £280 increase over the black body, taking the price to £6,200 (body only), it’s quite a premium. Nevertheless, the consensus here is that it looks good. What’s more, like most chrome bodies the finish will likely be more durable over the long term than the black option. Curiously the US press release states that only 1000 silver chrome bodies will be made, making it a limited edition. If anything says the SL2 is about to be replaced with the SL3 this is it. I’ve been hugely tempted to buy into…
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Videos surface of the new Leica M11
Two new videos have surfaced showing some of the design elements on the forthcoming Leica M11. The rear screen is not flush, as I had hoped for but on the plus side the new battery looks large, which bodes well for capacity. Also shown is the rumoured new Visoflex. It is rather boxy looking but it is hinged for overhead viewing and it has built-in dioptric control. At present there are no details on the spec’s but the inferred low-light capabilities are encouraging. https://vimeo.com/661857936 https://vimeo.com/661857745
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Thoughts on the up-coming Leica M11 – Updated
Update, January 7th: two new videos feature the new Leica M11 have leaked, see here for more details. Nokishita Camera, the principal source of most camera leaks on the net today, published the first picture of the Leica M11 (shown above) last week, allegedly ’taken’ from Leica’s Japan-based site. As it has shown up there it’s genuine, and coming soon. Although the press get advanced warning of cameras I’ve not heard anything officially (or unofficially, either), so this is just what I would like to see featured. It’s been long rumoured that the M11 will differ greatly from the M10, however as the leaked photo reveals there are only some slight differences…
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